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So all the men of Israel withdrew from David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to care for the house, and put them in a house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.

So Ama'sa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time which had been appointed him.

But Ama'sa did not observe the sword which was in Jo'ab's hand; so Jo'ab struck him with it in the body, and shed his bowels to the ground, without striking a second blow; and he died. Then Jo'ab and Abi'shai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

Then she said, "They were wont to say in old time, 'Let them but ask counsel at Abel'; and so they settled a matter.

That is not true. But a man of the hill country of E'phraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David; give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." And the woman said to Jo'ab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall."

So the king called the Gib'eonites. Now the Gib'eonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to slay them in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

But the king spared Mephib'osheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

But Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah came to his aid, and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men adjured him, "You shall no more go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."

They came upon me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my stay.

Thou dost deliver a humble people, but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down.

"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

They looked, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be taken with the hand;

but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire."

But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD wrought a great victory.

Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD,

He was the most renowned of the thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.

And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benai'ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.